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Big Cartel Fees: What to Watch Out For | 2024
Big Cartel is an online platform that helps artists, independent sellers and small businesses sell their products. It’s ideal for creators who want a simple way to manage and showcase their work online without complicated features.
Big Cartel offers affordable pricing, ease of use and a particular focus on creative sellers, making it popular among independent artists. With over 6 million product listings and more than $2.5 billion USD in sales, Big Cartel is the go-to choice for many small business owners.¹
Here’s an overview of Big Cartel fees. You can also see how they compare to Shopify fees.
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Big Cartel Fees: A Full Rundown
Big Cartel’s pricing is straightforward. It offers clear fee structures and zero hidden costs. Here’s a rundown of the fees you can expect to run into.
Big Cartel Plans
There are a few pricing plans available, each tailored to different business needs. Here’s a breakdown of the costs of each plan:
| Plan | Price per month (monthly billing) | Price per month (annual billing) | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold (free) | $0 | $0 | Up to 5 product listings, accept a range of payment methods and real time statistics |
| Platinum | $15 | $12 | All the features of Gold plus 50 product listings, custom domain, ad support, inventory tracking and more |
| Diamond | $30 | $24 | All the features of Platinum plus 500 product listings, prioritized support and more² |
| Read on for more: |
|---|
Other Big Cartel Fees to Consider
Although Big Cartel's monthly plans are straightforward, there are some other fees that sellers should be aware of.
Payment Processing Fees
Big Cartel doesn’t charge additional transaction fees. But it works with third-party payment processors who do charge transaction fees. Big Cartel offers payment gateways through PayPal and Stripe.
For Stripe, you’ll typically pay around 2.9% + $0.30 USD per transaction. For PayPal, you’ll usually pay 2.99% + $0.49 USD.³ ⁴
Custom Domain
Your domain name is a key part in acquiring new customers as it tells them what your business is.
While the Platinum and Diamond plans allow you to use a custom domain, you still need to purchase the domain yourself. Domains generally cost between $6 to $20 per year.⁵
Big Cartel also allows you to create a subdomain. This can help organize your online content, separating your online shop from your landing page.
Shipping Costs
Big Cartel allows you to set up shipping options, but you’ll need to factor in shipping costs to your products' pricing.
By understanding these additional costs, you can better plan your budget and avoid any unexpected expenses when using Big Cartel.
You’ll need to calculate your own shipping rates for your products based on size, weight, destination and carrier. If you ship from the US or Canada on a Platinum or Diamond plan and print your labels with Big Cartel admin, you can pull your shipping rates directly from Shippo.
If not, you can check your shipping rates through the shipping carrier you want to partner with.⁶
Miscellaneous indirect fees
There are some other fees to consider when setting up your online store that aren’t directly charged by Big Cartel.
You’ll need to give your product visibility to promote traffic, increase sales and acquire new customers. These marketing costs can include Search Engine Optimization (SEO) agency fees, paid ad campaigns and perhaps even a social media manager.
Big Cartel also offers integrations with many apps, but you’ll still need to pay for these apps.
Lastly, you might want to consider outsourcing a developer to tweak your website exactly the way you want it.
How Much Does it Cost to Sell on Big Cartel?
The cost to sell on Big Cartel depends on the plan you choose and the fees associated with payment processing.
Here's an example of the fees you’d pay for each plan if you sold 20 products for $50 USD each in a month ($1,000 USD in sales):
| Plan | Monthly fee (with annual billing) USD | Payment processing fee 2.9% + $0.30 (Stripe) USD | Total cost per month USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | $0 | $35 | $35 |
| Platinum | $12 | $35 | $47 |
| Diamond | $24 | $35 | $59 |
Of course, the cost of using Big Cartel also depends on the number of transactions you’re processing. Stripe will charge you $0.30 USD per transaction while PayPal charges $0.49 USD.
For instance, if you made the same $1,000 USD in sales in a month, but did so by selling 100 products for $10 USD each, you’re total costs would be as follows:
- Gold: $65 USD
- Platinum: $77 USD
- Diamond: $89 USD
The more transactions you make for the same amount of total sales revenue, the more fees you’ll pay.
What Percentage Does Big Cartel Take?
Unlike other platforms, Big Cartel doesn’t take a percentage of your sales. The only fees you’ll need to pay are for your subscription plan and the payment processing fees charged by PayPal or Stripe.
This makes Big Cartel an affordable option for sellers who want to keep most of their revenue in their pockets, without worrying about platform fees cutting into their profits.
Does Big Cartel Have Hidden Fees?
One of the advantages of Big Cartel is that it has no hidden fees. What you see is what you get.
The pricing structure is clear and there are no surprise costs like listing fees or additional platform charges. This makes budgeting easier for small business owners. It also enables you to get your products visibility with low barriers to entry.
Which Big Cartel Fee Plan is Best for Your Business?
Choosing the best Big Cartel plan for your business depends on your needs.
The Gold plan is best for artists or creators just starting out or selling a small number of products. Specifically, up to a maximum of 5 products.
The Platinum plan is ideal for small businesses that want more flexibility, customization and the ability to sell up to 50 products.
Lastly, the Diamond plan is best suited for growing businesses that need up to 500 product listings and advanced features like priority support.
If you’re just starting, the Gold plan allows you to get your store up and running without any financial commitment. As your business grows, upgrading to the Platinum or Diamond plan will give you more tools and customization options.
Big Cartel Alternative: Shopify Fees vs Big Cartel Fees
If you’re considering opening your own online store to sell your products, you might have considered Shopify.
Here’s a comparison of Big Cartel vs Shopify fees.
| Plan | Price per month (with annual billing) | Processing and transaction fees | Number of products |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Cartel Gold | $0 | 2.9% + $0.30 USD | 5 |
| Big Cartel Platinum | $12 | 2.9% + $0.30 USD | 50 |
| Big Cartel Diamond | $24 | 2.9% + $0.30 USD | 500 |
| Shopify Basic | $29 | 2.9% + $0.30 USD + 2% (transaction fee) | Unlimited |
| Shopify | $79 | 2.7% + $0.30 USD + 1.0% (transaction fee) | Unlimited |
| Shopify Advanced | $299 | 2.5% + $0.30 USD + 0.5% (transaction fee) | Unlimited |
If you sold 20 products for $50 using Shopify, you’d pay the following fees per month:
| Plan | Monthly fee (with annual billing) | Payment processing fee plus transaction fee | Total cost per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $29 | $55 | $84 |
| Shopify | $79 | $43 | $122 |
| Shopify Advanced | $299 | $36 | $335 |
Compared to Big Cartel, Shopify has higher fees for its subscription plans which raise its total monthly cost. It also charges an additional transaction fee if you don’t use Shopify Payments. However, you can connect your Wise Business account to Shopify, allowing you to save money on currency conversion fees. This can make Shopify more suited to international business.
The choice between Big Cartel vs Shopify depends on your business needs.
Shopify can be better suited to larger businesses or those planning to scale quickly. Shopify offers more advanced features, integrations and customization options but comes with higher fees.
Big Cartel can be an excellent choice for creators, artists, and small businesses who want a simple, affordable way to sell their products online. With no hidden fees, straightforward pricing plans, and features designed for independent sellers, it’s a platform worth considering for those just starting or selling a limited number of products.
For those comparing Big Cartel with Shopify, consider the size and needs of your business. While Big Cartel is budget-friendly and easy to use, Shopify can offer more robust tools for larger, fast-growing businesses.
| Read the full guide on BigCartel vs Shopify |
|---|
Sources:
¹ Big Cartel
² Big Cartel Pricing & Plans
³ Fees | Merchant and Business | PayPal US
⁴ Pricing & Fees | Stripe Official Site
⁵ Use a custom domain
⁶ Set up shipping
All sources checked September 2024.
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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